Citylight Book at Yoyogi-uehara is the type of independent bookstore where I would wish to hang every week. It opens in the afternoon and runs through late night as a bookstore, as well as a meet-up place, a bar for book lovers. Founded by Kaminaga-san, a veteran who had worked with publishing industry for many years before creating his own version of bookstore, this is a cool place to browse for new titles of books and magazines of a wide range of genres/topics. The second floor works as a nice study room too. CABO, the mix place where the bookstore is located also offers other original selection of snack bar and fine dining. You can easily drift in and out, encountering interesting souls in the hood. I had a book launch and talk event here in May, 2024. It's been such a wonderful experience, good crowd and good vibes only! 

Serene, calm, intimate park

Shibaura House is a unique workshop space in an office district. The building was designed by Kazuyo Sejima, an architect who has often worked outside of Japan. The first floor has self-published zines from all over the world, sent in by small publishers. It's kind of like a park: there are tables and chairs that anyone can sit on while looking at the zines. It's free of charge.

There are many long-established good Japanese buckwheat noodle restaurants in Kanda. "Kanda Yabusoba" was founded in 1880. Soba is Japanese brown noodle made from buckwheat flour. Generally, it is eaten cold after being dipped in a soy-flavored sauce. Kanda is also famous as a city for secondhand bookstores. You should take a walk to look for the books you like after eating Soba.

Omiya Pastry Shop is an open self-service shop, with an atmosphere of unique and elegant calm, reasonable prices, and a basic flavor. The space and the taste is satisfactory on every count. The interior gives me the feeling that I've gone back in time to Japan's Showa period.